All posts by Arthur Linfoot

23 August 1918; Friday

August 1918, ,

I slept from 2 o’clock until 6.30. Off duty at about 8 o’clock. Very heavy gunfire to the right. A rumour that we have attacked and won Arras and Soissons1. On duty at 9 at night, after spending a wakeful day. Heard that we have to move tomorrow owing to Jerry retiring so far. British continue to progress at several points. Turned in at 1am and slept on the floor of the dressing room. Received letter from home.

  1. Soissons is the only place-name I can (roughly) fit to the shorthand outline, but it is far to the S. of Arras. (DL)  ↩

20 August 1918; Monday

August 1918, ,

Up at 7 o’clock. On parade at 8 o’clock. Detailed for the A D S at 2 o’clock. Arrived at the ADS shortly before tea time. Had a bit talk with Harvey. He left me Richard Feverel1 to read. On duty at 9 o’clock and kept awake with a struggle all night. Read a good bit. Did a scrap of French.

Heard that the French have advanced a little nearer Noyon2.

  1. The Ordeal of Richard Feverel: novel by George Meredith. See also The Ordeal of Richard Feverel and Arthur Linfoot’s Library. ↩

  2. Noyon: about 60km S. of the Somme battlefield; Michelin square K10. ↩

16 August 1918; Friday

August 1918, ,

Up at 7 o’clock. Informed that the C O is not satisfied with the progress made with the work and that we must do an hour extra in the afternoon, and be C B1 at night. At night finished at 4.30 and told that the progress of the work done is satisfactory and that we may go out at night. Worked at our own dugout and dug the back out but it fell in. Night wasted. Received letter from home. Wrote letter to Ernie.

  1. C B: Confined to Barracks. ↩

14 August 1918; Wednesday

August 1918,

Up at 7 o’clock. Paraded at 8 o’clock. Bath and clean change in the morning, and then fatigues all day. Did a scrap of French and read a bit.

Jerry over at night and bombed a distance away. Terrific machine- and anti-aircraft gun-fire.

Good news from the French and British fronts.